Last season, the OKC Thunder took home some of the game's most prestigious and celebrated honors.
From individual accolades such as the moniker of league scoring champion and regular season MVP (both of which went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) to more full team accomplishments, such as winning the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City pretty much swept during awards season.
Now, even before the 2025-26 season has officially tipped off, one of the ball club's focal point figures is already being tabbed as the most deserving choice to take home the highest honor for his specific role, as Sam Vecenie of The Game Theory Podcast has publicly voiced his support for Sam Presti to be crowned Executive of the Year.
Thunder GM Sam Presti seen as 'best executive currently working'
During a recent episode of the podcast, Vecenie, along with Bryce Simon, shared their thoughts on who they believe will wind up winning the biggest awards this coming campaign.
When it came to the topic of Executive of the Year, The Athletic's draft guru was quick to shout out Presti as his number one candidate, admitting that he was "the first name that immediately came to mind."
"What if they just start giving this award to Sam Presti year after year... I think Sam is the best executive currently working in the NBA," Vecenie said.
Since taking over the helm as top decision-maker of the Thunder organization back in 2007, Presti has regularly found his name intertwined with some of the best executives, not just in the game today, but from throughout history.
Shockingly enough, however, his only time winning Executive of the Year came just last season, earning 74 total points in the voting process, 16 more than the second-placed Koby Altman of the Cavaliers.
Sadly, because of this win, Vecenie is skeptical about Presti winning it again, at least in 2026, as there hasn't been a back-to-back recipient since Stan Kasten did so during both the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
Nevertheless, regardless of his belief in the fact that the league "probably won't" allow the Thunder exec to take home the award for the second straight season, it's quite clear in both his and Simon's eyes that he's by far the most deserving, especially when considering he managed to re-sign his Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to sub-full max extensions and found a way to commit to north of $800 million in new, standard deals without even exceeding the luxury tax.